What we strive for in our Pre-K program...
At this developmental stage, children are busy exploring the world through their senses. Movement, language, dramatic play, construction, art and music are all key features of life in our Pre-K program. Our teachers seek to create diverse and exciting opportunities for the children to explore the natural world, express themselves in creative ways, and begin to experiment with the wonderful world of words and numbers. All learning is clearly contextualized in the experiences offered to the children in the classroom and their immediate surroundings. Whilst the children might be engaged in seemingly abstract topics, such as ‘Outer Space’ or ‘Beneath the Ocean’, the activities are always grounded in experiential learning - for example, building a rocket ship or creating sea creature costumes for a play set beneath the sea.
We believe in the importance of immersing children in creative (and therefore messy!) projects, singing, laughing, dancing, talking and moving! Art, drama and music play a core role in children's development within the program, as they are encouraged to express their evolving thoughts and feelings within their community. The children also learn important social skills and understandings as they play, learn alongside, and make friends with children of differing ages in our school. The Pre-K to Fifth Grade children come together each day during our combined lunch/recess time. All of the children benefit from this multi-age time, as they come to see themselves as 'more' or 'less' competent at certain things than other children, but that everyone has things they are working on getting better at. It is wonderful to hear the children reflecting on each other's growth and encouraging each other during these daily interactions.
For more detailed information on learning in Pre-K, please download our Curriculum Guide.
Learning Festivals
Each year the Pre-K to Fifth Grade children host several 'Learning Festivals', showcasing the interdisciplinary themes they have been immersed in. The intent of these celebrations is to provide the children with a motivating audience to share their learning with, as well as give parents and other family members the chance to share in the fun of our school with us.
|
